September 26, 2006	Tuesday	Ramazan 2, 1427

LAHORE, Sept 25: Punjab Agriculture Minister Arshad Khan Lodhi on Monday said measures are being taken to protect cotton crop against attack of whitefly, spotted bollworm, pink bollworms and other pests.

The field staffs of the agriculture department have been directed to remain in fields so as to give guidance to the farmers for protecting their crops against pest attack and timely use of pesticides for the purpose.

He was presiding over a departmental meeting here. Secretary Agriculture Fayyaz Bashir, Agriculture Development Commissioner, Minfal, Dr Qadir Baksh Baluch, DG research, director cotton and agriculture experts participated in the meeting.

The minister said the government gave special attention to cotton as it was the major cash crop. He said all the resources would be utilised to enhance the production of cotton in the province and resultantly increased the export of cotton products.

The minister said steps being taken to protect the crop against the pest attack were reviewed in a high level meeting last week. The meeting expressed satisfaction over the results of measures being taken to protect the crop.

—APP